Nothing Better To Do

[Meerful]

A dark tabby long haired apprentice made his way along the swampy lands of the Shadow Clan terra. His paws neither got stuck in the frozen muck, nor had trouble navigating throught he slush. His eyes held solemnity, while his heart held confusion. Had he made he right choice joining Shadowclan?

Questions racked his brain constantly, and the only way to solve them was to prove them wrong. Flailpaw was utterly confused and discontent. Why had he come here? What use could he be? Even the leader didn't seem to want him. Maybe there really was no reason for him to live.

Guilt washed over the apprentice in huge waves. His sister... Oh how he missed her. It shouldn't have been her, why hadn't they taken him instead? Why why why? The tom pawed the frozen ground, scratching it until his paws bled. Well, he had nothing better to do.

[Burningwing]

" Hey, wait up Flailpaw!"

Crowpaw leaped over frozen logs that lay in her path, skimming them by only a centimeter as she sailed over with tucked paws. The spongy swamp hadn't frozen over like the other clan's had, but it was still cold nevertheless. She sailed over a large stump and skidded to a halt beside Flailpaw. She saw the trickles of blood running off his paws as he pawed the ground. Why was he doing that? Crowpaw wondered breathlessly.
She hunched over and looked up at him, trying to determine what he was feeling. But how would she know? She could ask him. But she doubted he would tell her why. She had only met him a while ago.
" What are you doing?"
She puffed, gasping for breath after the long distance dash. The cold air turned to clouds as she breathed.

[Meerful]

Jumping, Flailpaw faced Crowkit. A grim expression spread across his face. To tell the truth, he hadn't even acknowledged what he had been doing. He lifted a paw and gingerly ran his tongue across it to wipe up his blood. He switched and did the same to the other. After a moments hesitation he answered the she cat.

"Why do you care?" His reply was in monotone, emotionless, defying, and cold. It wsn't that he didn't like Crowpaw, he did, but it was just that he hated to show his emotions, because when he did, they were used against him. Nothing he did made anything better for him unless he didn't do anything.

Flailpaw stared at the ground. It was tinted red. Paw marks imprinted it, and when he stared into the ice, he saw the reflection of a misplaced tabby tom. Why would she care? You are really stupid Flailpaw. You should leave now, and not coem back. You don't deserve to be here. Flailpaw slouched a bit. It was true, he didn't. It's your fault shes dead

[Burningwing]

Crowpaw frowned slightly. Why did she care if he ripped the skin on his pads off? It wasn't like it was her problem. She sniffed as a flake of crisp, snow landed on her muzzle. She sighed and turned to face Flailpaw. What could she say that he wouldn't frown upon? She scanned through her mind, trying to find that reason. She had no luck and decided to make something up.
" Well, if we share the same den, I wouldn't want blood matting up my bed!"
She purred, trying to brighten the mood that hung listlessly in the cold evening air.
She scanned Flailpaws face for any signs of cheerfulness or warmth. unfortunately, she didn't know how to tell if any was there when he was emotionless. She blew air out her nose and clouds of steam hung in front of her. She could tell that Flailpaw was thinking about someone that had died. She blinked the blurry out of her eyes.
" What happened?"

[Meerful]

Straightening his slouched back, he turned to face the apprentice. A small tear glistened in his eyes, but his emotionless face made it seem like the wind had made his eyes water. He twitched his nose in thought, debating whether he should tell the she cat. At last he cleared his throat to speak.

"I-I lost my sister to an Earthquake, and it's my fault" His voice went from sad, to guilty. It was his fault. "I don't deserve to be here, it shouldn't have been her. It should've have been me. She was smart, beautiful, and sweet as nature, well, at least she nevered killed anyone or anything." His eyes grew dark and cold.

"I shouldn't have told you that. Now you'll just... Nevermind. Go ahead, laugh at me, and mock me. I'm beyond caring anymore. I've had enough of getting made fun of and caring, so I'll just be a good sport while you laugh, adn everything else laughs amd I die a little more inside" Flailpaw mewed, but it turned into a growl.

[Burningwing]

Crowpaw looked straight at Flailpaw she knew how it felt and she didn't want to think about her brother. She grimaced as the picture of a frail long-legged kit framed in her mind.
" Why would I laugh?"
She mewed quietly. She wrapped her tail tightly around her paws, trying to warm herself since the ground was sticking to the pads of her feet. She shivered and looked back up at Flailpaw, she tucked her ears back to her head, not as a show of anger, but so they didn't freeze in the frosty air. Her lungs still felt as though they would burst at any moment, though she tried to make it look as though she wasn't out of breath. If she had walked the way she probably wouldn't be puffing out all this steaming air. even at a slow trot she could have been fairly shapely. But dashing all the way to catch up to Flailpaw had proven itself thoughtless.
" If Starclan Let you live instead of your sister, you must have a purpose."

[Meerful]

Flailpaw shook himself before replying, sending showers of snow everywhere, but it could hardly be seen from all the other snow that was falling. He turned away from her. "I don't care about this anymore. I prefer not to talk about it" Flailpaw replied dryly. Snow made it's way into the crevice between his ear and his head, and when the coldness seeped under his fur he shook his head adn pawed at it.

"As for killing my sister, which is all my fault, I don't think it was supposed to happen. It was supposed to be me. It must have been. She would know how to be a better person, better friend than I. I don't fit in here, or anywhere. I don't deserve everything I have. I deserve one thing. To live my pitiful life on through, I am going to force myself to wait before I can see her again" He mewed.

[Burningwing]

Crowpaw didn't want to stir him up with anymore bad memories, but she had one question that nagged at her and gnawed at her curiosity. She decided to ask it later when it was more suitable. She shook her head witch was freezing as the cold melted snowflakes seeped into her fur and causing it to mat. Crowpaw looked up at the sky. It gleamed and glittered with neon colours that flashed and attracted night creatures out of their homes to frolic and play in the night, their eyes sparkling if any shaft of moonlight happened to look down on them, it would shine right back at the moon.
Crowpaw glanced back at Flailpaw. She felt something stir inside her as she compared herself to the other apprentice. She didn't want to anger him with more words about his past. She felt that she needed to talk about hers. She took a deep breath and snuffled as she thought of what she would tell him. Not to much she warned herself.
" I have a brother," She started scuffing her paws in the hard, frozen moss." He was always teased about being so small. I lived in Windclan with him and tried to speak up and ward the other kits to leave him alone. Though he was small, he had the longest legs and would always outrun them." Crowpaw smiled thinly at the thought of her brother leaving the others in the dust. " There was a battle and we got separated, I found my way to Shadowclan, but I don't know about him.." She trailed off in wonder...

[Meerful]

Flailpaw looked over at her. Snowfakes twinkled on her delicate fur and shined in his eyes. He nodded in understanding. "Well, I guess everything is temporary anyways. When things are wet, the colours slip into the sky. I don't know why, but I guess that means you and I both will die." He said, his voice commenting on the way the colours seemed to make everything fall from the sky in a blur of spectrums. It seemed as if the stars themselves were falling, falling just for them.

As beautiful as it was, it was still cold, still made his fur stick to him, and it still caused him discomfort. The only time he really enjoyed being wet was in the water. That was how he had missed her. A flashback appeared in his mind. The water swirled aroudn him, he could barely see as the river's waves became choppy and irregular. He choked, struggled to fight he current. Vicous swirls almost engulfed him. The once gentle waters carried him farther away... Flailpaw shook his head again.

[Burningwing]

Crowpaw nodded thoughtfully. She closed her eyes and felt the wind blow her fur and tangling it in small clumps of night black pelt. She imagined herself racing after her brother, while he was leaving her in his dusted as he roared down the stretch of Windclan moor. She could almost taste the dust as it whirled up into her face. she could feel the lush grass under her pads and the rocks and pebbles. She wish she knew where here brother was, she missed him so much.

Crowpaw sighed again as the setting sun shone on her fur and creating a bit of warmth inside her again. She watched as the stars danced into the sky and whirl around in different paths. Maybe that's what happened to us...She turned around to look back at Flailpaw. her pelt rustled and snow shimmered on top of it.
" I love the sunsets here...."

[Meerful]

Flailpaw was noddign when the irnoy struck him. Like a flash, his bursted out, the knowledge beign recieved. "I lost my sister, you lost your brother! Does that not sem coincidental?" He asked laughing in spite of the grimness of the situation.

[Burningwing]

_{Crowpaw pricked her ears and her eyes widened. Why hadn't she noticed that? Crowpaw turned around to face Flailpaw. She tried to say something smart like, Yes, isn't that odd? Or, Of course! But she burst out in a laugh of amazement. Wasn't it odd? She couldn't help it, she kept laughing. It felt good.
"Hehehaha! Ya!"}

[Meerful]

Flailpaw shook his medium built body and lifted his nose to scent the air. "Are you hungry? We could go hunting... If you'd like" As soon as he'd said it, he was slightly embaressed. Of course she wouldn't want to, he was too freaky and creepy. That's why his mother left him, right? He shook his head again. Don't do this...

[Burningwing]

_{Crowpaw looked over in surprise. Her laughing fit ended as quickly as it had started. She looked over at Flailpaw and felt her jaws pert open a tiny bit in shock. Would she say yes? She pressed one of her paws down in the snow. Was this like a date? Crowpaw smiled slightly.
She was a bit hungry, a hunt might be nice. Her ebony pelt shimmered in a shaft of sunlight, casting blue shadows over her. She felt her stomach grumbled and grinned.
"Ok!" She purred " A hunt would be great!"
Her stomach growled again to announce it's opinion.}

[Meerful]

Flailpaw shook his head againand cleared all his thoughts off the past. "Great, you lead the way" He mewed to the black apprentice. His pelt was getting covered in snow, and his dark tabby pelt seemed white with gray flecks. "Heh, weather's beautiful" He said, still slightly embaressed.

[Burningwing]

_{Crowpaw pranced beside him, her eyes glinting and shimmering like the ice and snow. Her black pelt twinkled white and blue in a shaft of sun that stroked her pelt. Her blue eyes matched the snow and her claws clicked on the frozen snow.
Hearing Flailpaw speak she turned her head curiously to answer his question. Beautiful weather? It was shimmering!
" Yah," she breathed dreamily," It is..."
Crowpaw had the urge to brush against Flailpaw, but with the shy, reserved personality she had, she only reached over with her tail and gave his a little flick.
Crowpaw dashed ahead right after into the underbrush, even though the leaves of the ferns had fallen, dry stems popped out of the ground for little critters.}

[Meerful]

Feeling a slight tap on his tail, Flalipaw looked over at Crowpaw who was now dancing in the snow. The corners of his mouth raised a bit in a cautious smile, not knowing if his smile at her mischevous would embaress her or not.
He stared upwards at the frozen sky. It was brilliant. Absolutly brilliant.
Flailpaw shook himself slightly hot on his pelt. His eyes darted back over to Crowpaw. Her pelt matched the beautiful snow, she was... Wait, was he, Flailpaw, clling a she cat beuatiful...?
yes, yes I am He smiled to himself.

[Burningwing]

_{Crowpaw danced through the snow, flakes of white floating down into her face. She pranced round ice covered trees and bushes that rattled with icicles clinging to the small twigs and branches and snapping the weak ones because of how heavy they were. Crowpaw scampered over to a mound of powder snow and slammed into it. Snow flew everywhere, tickling her nose and frosting her pelt. She sneezed and laughed. The winter was turning out to be fun after all!
After her mad dash and snow pounding madness, she pranced back over to Flailpaw, her teeth clattering as snow melted and seeped through her pelt, freezing her skin. She gasped and a breath of steam escaped her mouth. Her pelt twinkled with drops of ice and snow.
" Sure is cold!" She shivered with a sigh of happiness. Though she was freezing from head to toe, she felt warm.
She debated over a question in her mind, but finally gave into her brave side. She padded over to Flailpaw and brushed her fur against his. She purred warmly as she felt the warmth of another cat.
" Ready to go hunting?"}

[Meerful]

A look of amazement spread over Flailpaw's face as he watched Croawpaw flitter through the snow like a butterfly through the air on a arm breezy summer day. How could anyone enjoy the snow so much? It did so much harm, ruined so many things, yet, Crowpaw seemed to really have fun in the white powdery substance. Flailpaw shook his head laughing. She was a funny she cat.
When Crowpaw bounded over, he was shocked as he felt cold icicles touch his skin, but he also felt warmth. After she asled him if he wanted to hunt, he was even more shocked. "D'love to, but don't you think we should wait for you to warm up for a minute?" He mewed in a inviting way. He entwined his tail with hers cautiously, not knowing if she'd react in anger, puzzlement, or worse...

[Burningwing]

_{Crowpaw purred in delight as Flailpaw entwined his tail with hers. The warmth was seeping through her fine black pelt and tickling her toes with pleasure. The thought of leaving this to go hunting shocked her, and she instantly decided that staying a bit longer wouldn't hurt. She sighed and pushed herself closer, relishing the warmth and comfort of his fur against hers.
" Well, i guess I should warm up a bit more..."
She mewed mysteriously. Her eyes glimmered and danced with silver highlights. The snow also shone silver, as flashes of sun sweeped them in all directions. Crowpaw breathed out a mouthful of steam and sighed.
Glancing at Flailpaw she decided to do something. Gently, she pulled her tongue over his cheek, where she had seen a smudge of dirt. Then she waited patiently for his reaction....}

[Meerful]

Flailpaw froze slightly, a little odd feeling with the comfort. He shrugged it off though, closing his eyes. The irises were almost a milky brown, a diferent than his usual color, and he was happy, utterly and stupidly happy. Wonderously, he began lauhing at the sheer idiocy of himself. "Wow. What a weird day" He mewed analytically. His mood was ambivalent, and egotistical. He was happy...

[Burningwing]

<sub>Crowpaw grinned back. "Ya," she breathed, snowflakes catching on her eyes. Her ebony pelt danced in the flames of light that broke roughly through the cover of the trees who's branches reached outward to grab every shaft of sunlight. The white starshine seared into her pelt and flashing with every movement. Her blue eyes twinkled merrily and laughed. Lowering her head, she gave Flailpaw a headbutt, an invitation for a play fight.

She was enjoying her day so far and she wished it could go on forever. Flailpaw is so silly! She thought to herself as once again she gave him a headbutt invitation.</sub>

[Meerful]

Flailpaw jumped back a bit, her touch doing more to his feeligns than to her. That, he was sure of. His eyes narrowed playfully. "Hey! I'll get you for that!" He yowled with mock anger.

[Burningwing]

<sub>" In your dreams!"

Crowpaw gathered her legs under her like a frog on a lily pad and launched herself through the air, wind whistling tunes in her ear. Her feelings were not mattering to her, not that she noticed that. Flailpaw was her victim. He would be praying to StarClan for help after this!

Her tail flicked back as she dived down at him, her eyes shone determinedly. As she was inches away from her hit, she coiled her tail and stretched her legs forward. She couldn't miss.......</sub>

[Meerful]

Flailpaw stood lightly, then dodged as quickly as he could, feeling paws clip his side, then whipped around and lashed his tail to balance himself. Then, he ran forward, light speed so he could move when she did.

[Burningwing]

_{Crowpaw hissed a mock threat as her paws grazed Flailpaw's flank. As she landed, her paws hit at different times, unbalancing her. With a yowl of alarm, she fell back, her legs kicking at invisible things. Her back hit the ground with a 'uff" as the air was knocked out of her lungs. She lay, exposed, her belly facing up to the sky and her limbs dangled uselessly. If Flailpaw was to launch a attack, it would be now....}

[Meerful]

Flailpaw at any other time, would have gone straight for her, but instead, he burst of laughing. "You're so funny Crowpaw" He murmered to her. His eyes shone with a bit of emotion, and it embaressed him, but he liked her, so did it matter... Maybe... "Hw about we play something less... Physical? Race ya!" He challenged. Flailpaw was fast, and muscular, but lanky, so you'd never know he had muscles until you were in a battle with him.

[Burningwing]

<sub>Crowpaw struggled onto her paws. Her eyes still gleamed in mischievous, but her muscles tensed and ready. She swiped a clump of dirt off her ears and trotted into place beside Flailpaw.

"I'll warn you Shadowclaner," She mocked to get the competitive blood flowing in their veins. " This is a ex. Windclaner your talking to!"

Her long legs gracefully bent into place as she readied to race. Then she rocketed forward and glanced back only once as her paws hit the ground, to check Flailpaws progress.</sub>

//g2g, bye//

[Meerful]

Flailpaw laughed as he sped off, finding it easy to stay in step with Crowpaw. He stuck his tongue out at her as he ran. The wind made him feel like he was dropping forward off a cliff as he zoomed forward, his legs bunching under him then stretching forward as he ran.

[Burningwing]

<sub>Crowpaw gave a mreow of surprise as Flailpaw caught up with her. Her flank brushed his and she gave a quick laugh before kicking out her back legs and tumbling on top of him, stopping Flailpaw in his tracks. Her blue eyed glowed jokingly as she stood on top of him, holding him firmly to the ground so he couldn't escape.

"Got you now Shadowclaner!" She purred playfully and she reached down to give his ear a playful nip, careful not to bite him to hard. " Crowpaw the killer gets her first victim!" she mocked, throwing her head back into a triumphant yowl. Then she bent her head down, purring loudly, and gave his nose a short lick, then pranced off into a clump of bracken, the sound of her giggling ringing out through the trees.</sub>